CLAASSEN, Dedereka 1872-1942

CLAASSEN, GRAFFE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 12/23/2016 at 15:54:33

Mrs. John Claasen Rites Held Today

Mrs. John Claassen died at her home in Grundy Center Sunday after a lingering illness. The deceased was born Dedereka Graffe in Germany, Nov. 4, 1872.

Surviving besides the husband are six daughters, three sons and fourteen grandchildren.

Funeral services are being held this afternoon (Wednesday) at the Bethany Presbyterian church in Grundy Center. Burial will be in the cemetery of the First Christian Reformed church west of Wellsburg.

--The Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 27 May 1942, pg 2

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Mrs. John Claassen Died Sunday From Cancer

Mrs. John Claassen died at her home in Grundy Center at 11:30 Sunday forenoon. She had been a sufferer from cancer for six months.

Funeral services were held at the home at 12:30 Wednesday afternoon and at the Bethany Presbyterian church at one o'clock. Burial was in the cemetery adjoining the First Christian Reformed church two miles west of Wellsburg.

Mrs. Claassen was born in Eastfriesland, Germany, on November 4, 1872. She came to America when she was 20 years old. She came direct to Grundy county from her home in the old country. Two years later she was married to John Claassen. During the first five years of her marriage the family lived on a farm in Hardin county. From there they moved to a farm in Wright county where they remained 6 years. After that they returned to a farm in Hardin county where they lived 7 years, when they moved to a farm in Shiloh township where they remained until they came to Grundy Center 14 years ago.

Surviving are the husband and nine children. The children are Mrs. John H. Fischer, Toledo; Mrs. Ben Geerdes, Steamboat Rock; Mrs. E. D. Meyer, Dike; Dick, Grundy Center; Mrs. Albert Siefken, Marshalltown; Mrs. Harm Klunder, Grundy Center; John Claassen Jr., Grundy Center; Mrs. Harm Rust, Melrose township, and LeRoy, Grundy Center. Other surviving relatives are one brother, Fritz Graffe.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 28 may 1942, pg 12